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Medicare Coverage of Manual Wheelchairs

The Medicare program helps pay for wheelchairs for People with Medicare. 
If your medical condition is such that you would be bed or chair confined and you need a wheelchair to move around your home to conduct normal daily functions, Medicare may help pay for a rental manual wheelchair.  Medicare does not purchase wheelchairs outright (until a wheelchair has been rented for a period of 10 months.)

Medicare will not pay for a wheelchair used as a convenience item or for leisure activities.

This means that wheelchairs used for shopping or other activities that require walking a longer range than you may be able to walk does not meet the terms for Medicare coverage. 
You must be bed or chair confined without the wheelchair for Medicare to help cover the cost.

Your physician must complete a Certificate of Medical Necessity (CMN) to be filed with the claim from your supplier.

Payment 

For most manual wheelchairs, ten monthly rental payments are made by Medicare before you are given the option to purchase the wheelchair. Medicare does not purchase most manual wheelchairs until you have made this choice.

If you Choose to Purchase your rental wheelchair:

If you sign a purchase agreement at the tenth month with your supplier, Medicare will make three more rental payments (13 total rental payments). 

You are responsible for the 20% coinsurance amount and, for unassigned claims, the balance between the Medicare allowed amount and the supplier's charge for the wheelchair. 

If you select this option, you own the wheelchair and are responsible for the maintenance.

If you Choose to Continue Renting:

If you sign a rental agreement at the tenth month with your supplier, Medicare makes a total of 15 rental payments. You are responsible for the 20% coinsurance amount and, for unassigned claims, the balance between the Medicare allowed amount and the supplier's charge. The wheelchair remains yours to use as long as you medically need it; however, the supplier maintains title and ownership of the wheelchair. The supplier is also responsible for the maintenance of the wheelchair.

For More Information call DMERC Customer Service 1-800-842-2052